David w



(No Model.)

- D. W. HODGES.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 259.014., Patented June 6; 1882. y Y

INYENTOR.

r. Wanhingion, n c.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID W. HODGES, OF WASHINGTON, INDIANA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent No. 259,014, dated June 6,1882.

Application filed April 20, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID W. Honens, of Washington, in the countyofDaviess and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to automatic carcouplings, and has for its objectto provide a simple, durable, inexpensive, and efficient means forcoupling cars having the ordinary pin-and-link coupling. To this end itconsists in certain improvements in the construction and operation ofthe same.

In the drawings, Figure l is an end view of a car equipped with myimproved coupling; Fig. 2, a side view thereof; Fig. 3, a top view; Fig.4, a vertical longitudinal sectional view; Fig. 5, a detail view of thelink; Fig. 6, alike view of the pin, and Fig. 7 a sectional view of aportion of the draw-head.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the draw-head, whichis mainly of the ordinary construction, having a mouth, B, link chamberor recess O, vertical perforation D, having an auxiliary longitudinalgroove or recess, E, and provided at its rear end with a suitableelastic buffer or cushion, F, the drawhead being arranged under the carin any suitable manner.

G is the coupling-pin, which is vprovided with a longitudinal tongue orprojection, H, down its rear side, and has pivoted to its head by meansof a pin or bolt, I, the ends of two outwardly-extending levers, J J.The latter are also pivoted in brackets K K on the end of the car, andare provided on their upper sides with a series of notches, L, adaptedto be engaged by the beveled endsMof two arms, N N, pivoted at theirupper ends, 0, to the end-of the car. When the ends of hanging arms N Nare adjusted in the notches L they secure the levers J J in a loweredposition, thus retaining the coupling-pin elevated. Then in coupling,when the link of the adjoining car enters the drawhead the latter ispressed or forced back against its cushion, thus throwing the outer endsof lovers J J forward and out of engagement with the arms N N. The pinis thus allowed to fall and effects the coupling.

The sides of the coupling-link P are provided on their under sides withprojections Q Q, which support the link in the draw-head. When it isdesired to elevate the link in coupling, the pin is depressed, and theflange or projection Hon its rear side,'which -works in groove IE; willpress on the rear end of the link, thus causing it to be elevated, theprojections or supports Q Q acting as a fulcrum.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.It is simple in construction, automatic in operation, and of superiorconvenience and utility. 'lo uncouple it is only necessary to depressthe outer end of one of the levers J to raise the coupling-pin.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, withthe draw-head capable of a horizontal movement, and having an elasticbufier or cushion, F, at its rear end,

of the coupling-pin having pivoted to its head the ends of levers J J,having a series of notches, L, in their upper sides, and the pivotedarms N N, the beveled ends of which engage said notches to hold the pinin an elevated position, the arrangement being such that when the linkenters the draw-head it pushes the same back, thus throwing the arms N Nfrom out of engagement with the notches L to allow the pin to drop andeffect the coupling, as set forth. j

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the pin having a projectionadapted to press on the rear end of the coupling-link, when the latteris in position in the draw-head, by aid of suitably-arranged levers, ofthe coupling-link provided on its under side, near the end, with theprojections, one on each side, which act as a fulcrum against the bottomof the draw-head when the front end of the linkis raised, as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID WORS'IEL HODGES.

Witnesses: ELISHA LABERN HATFIELD, DAVID HATFIELD.

